Meal prepping is a staple in any athlete’s routine, and though it usually only comes around once or twice a week it can be time-consuming. But it doesn’t have to be.
“Meal prep is all about the planning, and the part that usually takes the longest to get done is the protein,” notes Toby Amidor, author of The Healthy Meal Prep Cookbook. By dedicating a little time to making the mains, you can quickly put together a variety of delicious dishes that will be ready whenever you want them.
Amidor’s recipes make creative use (and reuse!) of your main protein ingredients, so you can serve up a clean, healthy meal in just a few minutes.
Barbecue chicken is a beloved dinner favorite, but it isn’t particularly well known for being easy or quick to make. Thankfully, that’s where the magic of the slow cooker comes in. By the time dinner rolls around, you’ll have a delicious (and not too heavy) family meal ready to go.
Make a tex-mex salad with lettuce, tomato, onion, black beans, monterey jack cheese, and a handful of crushed tortilla chips
Top over thin-crust whole-wheat pizza dough and sprinkle with mozzarella
Top over a medium baked sweet potato
Make a quesadilla with high-protein tortillas, monterey jack cheese, beans, and diced tomatoes
Roll into a high-protein tortilla filled with lettuce, tomato, onion, and colby-jack cheese
This nutritious stir-fry recipe does require a bit of TLC but when seasoned properly and paired with an intensely flavorful peanut sauce, you’ll be wondering why you ever ordered takeout.
Chop and add it to brown rice and beans or a chili
Cube, reheat, and add to a broth-based soup with sliced vegetables like carrots
Make a panini sandwich with thin slices of pork and cheese
Serve over wild rice with sautéed cauliflower or kale on the side
This savory and delicious pork tenderloin recipe is great both as the star of your meal or as a protein base in an array of other dishes. Try chopping it up and adding it to brown rice and beans or a chili.
Chop and add it to brown rice and beans or a chili
Cube, reheat, and add to a broth-based soup with sliced vegetables like carrots
Make a panini sandwich with thin slices of pork and cheese
Serve over wild rice with sautéed cauliflower or kale on the side
Level-up your meal prep with this flavorful tofu recipe. When it comes to tofu, people generally complain about the lack of flavor, which isn’t an issue here. This recipe infuses ginger, garlic, onions, and plenty of other flavorful ingredients.
Serve over brown rice or sorghum
Toss into leftover chili
Create a buddha bowl with sautéed greens and lentils
